They Sang as They Burned

I finished a novel about the Templars (1) the other day. In case you decide to read it, which by the way I recommend, I won’t unravel the plot too much. The Templars were a military order associated with the crusades and the protection of pilgrams. Much has been written about their legendary secrets, hidden treasures and religious artifacts.
One story indicates that the Templars had the bones of Jesus and the Gospel of Simon Peter which told of the death of Jesus as a man, not resurrected. The reality, according to the story, was later changed in the four adopted Gospels to make Jesus into a God. Without the resurrection, the entire mythos of Christianity would founder. So goes the story.
I began to think about this premise, and came to the same conclusion. Everything in Christianity is really dependant on Jesus being resurrected in physical body. But what if that didn’t happen? What if He died? And the rest was made up by subsequent followers to solidify their hold on the beginnings of a new religion? What if?
I guess it doesn’t’ t really make a difference. A belief in something by my definition is accepting as true without supporting facts. So actually true or not, the belief in a resurrected God is sufficient for all who profess the Christian faith. Others will demand factual demonstration and theory before any such “belief” is accepted as real. And, since the resurrection-or-not occurred more than 2000 years ago, neither the believers nor the fact demanders will ever be definitively judged correct.
Which leads to the Gospels (I know the definition of Gospel, so give me a break) According to Search. Simply this: the idea called Jesus emanates from within all of us, is a part of all of us, and can be found and used by simply looking for it. Some call it conscience, some moral compass, some claim to just know what is right while others seek guidance from without for direction. Whatever it is called, it provides a way to moderate the interactions with other humans and between humans and the rest of the world. It is an evolved characteristic of humans. The tendency of most humans to seek and create a supernatural being to oversee their lives is most likely a genetic trait. Not all of us have such a trait. Without the trait, belief in supernatural beings makes no sense. With the trait, anyone that doesn’t believe makes no sense. Chalk and Cheese.
What we have to do is put aside the diffenences and work together to keep the world alive and not slip into degradation and chaos. Believing won’t cure the problems, and knowing without action won’t either. Only identifying the problems of the world and acting, not praying, will help. Don’t forget the 1942 Loesser song “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition”. Or the phrase “the Lord helps those who help themselves”. These and others embody the solution to the seeming gulf: Engender both the religious and the secular perspective for success. Time to bury the hatchet and get going on solutions.

The Templars, by the way, were exterminated by "The Church", much like the Cathars. In 2 weeks I will stand on the ground where 200 Cathars were burned alive by "The Church". They walked into the fire willingly, and according to some reports, sang and smiled as they burned. Now THAT is believing. The Templars went down fighting for their order.

1. http://www.steveberry.org/berry-templar-about.htm
2. http://www.cathar.info/
Image: www.istop4books.wordpress.com

On the Train Wreck Ahead.

A new study (1) just published adds more information to the growing body of SCIENCE that predicts rapid and disastrous climate change in the near future. The aspect of this study that is alarming is the reevaluation of data and the conclusion that global temperatures might rise as high as 6 degrees C in the next century. That is a number that is really scary. The reason? Simple. The amount of CO2 going into the atmosphere. Even the most modest models of atmospheric CO2 show a continuing increase for the next 50 -75 years, and this modest amount is enough trigger climate disaster.
This has happened before. But not this fast. That is the wildcard in the mix this time around. Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the world has been pouring fossil CO2 into the atmosphere at ever increasing rates. Fossil CO2 is a carbon source that has been trapped in the earth for millions of years. It would probably slowly leach out, slowly increasing the atmospheric levels. But we are releasing it by the megaton by burning coal, oil and natural gas. Never since the origin of the earth has this much carbon been put into the atmosphere so quickly. The results are 100% predictable. Atmospheric temperature increase.
Let the tea party have their way and deregulate industry so they can add more carbon to the air. It won’t matter. Let the Third World keep adding to the carbon load in the atmosphere. It won’t matter. We have already, as so elegantly stated in “The Phantom of the Opera”, passed the point of no return.
Image: www. freshtronic.com
(1) http://www.ajsonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/311/1/1
Video of real train wreck: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBhQhKWOZmk

On Rabbits and Life

Yesterday I saw a cute bunny hop in front of my home office window. Big eyes, fluffy small tail, wiggly nose. Then the bastard jumped into a raised bed and started nibbling a squash. It instantly changed from cute to bastard. Why, I asked myself?
Why indeed. I planted the garden, which is essentially a food plot for my family. And for anything else that can get into it. Birds peck at caterpillars and sometimes fruit. Insects steal a meal when they can. Probably rats and mice forage at night, and maybe snakes hunt for them as well. So why be surprised when wildlife is attracted, and why not share?
No, the problem was with me. And that quick change of attitude needs looking at and working on. I have met people at various times in life who turned on a dime: one minute friendly, the next raging about something. I just never thought of myself like that. And usually I am not. Just to make this clear, I didn’t get a gun and shoot the bun, or get an attack of apoplexy. It was even a bit of a joke. But still - - -.
When hunters and biologists come back from the field, they check themselves for ticks. Well, this is a check too. Check yourself for irrational swings, and if you find them, try to figure out what the “hot button” is and defuse it. You and everybody around you will be much happier.
Image: http://www.free-extras.com/images/wild_rabbit-8713.htm

Killing Blue Jays

A local weekly newspaper ran a short piece by a contributor who was having trouble with Blue Jays at her bird feeders. Her solution was to buy a powerful bb gun and shoot them. This revelation caused a small firestorm of response from readers, biologists and even the Georgia State Department of Natural Resources. It is, after all, a state and federal crime to kill any migratory bird. Blue Jays fall into this category.
Blue Jays are aggressive, noisy, pretty, funny and part of the natural world of birds. When I sit on my porch and watch birds, I watch them all. Even the bronze headed Cow bird. They are all part of the natural mix found in the woods and fields of this area. If you put up feeders they will come. It makes no sense to attract birds with a feeder, and then try to screen the clients. Consider the Jays as the clowns of the bird circus and enjoy them. Besides, they are usually the first to spot snakes, and have a very particular “I see a snake” call. I have never failed to find a snake when the Jays are telling me about it. The other birds are appreciative as well.
As for the snakes, well, they belong there too. It is axiomatic that if you increase the density of food, the predators will show up. So bird feeders are natural places for snakes. I don’t kill them either. Simply pick them up and move them away. Sure, they get a few birds, but after all, it is a “bird feeder” isn’t it?
Image: www. allaboutbirds.org
Youtube video of baby jay: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdgKhHYEu_0